New Guinea Impatiens plant `Wanda`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named `Wanda`, characterized by its bright purple-red flower color, numerous medium sized flowers, intense green, narrow elliptically shaped leaves, compact to medium growth habit, and very early flowering response.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Wanda`.

`Wanda` is a product of a planned breeding program and was originated from a hybridization made by the inventor Norbert Bull in a controlled breeding program in Goennebek, Germany in 1990. The female parent was a seedling designated No. 53 and the male parent was a seedling designated No. 45. Both parents are proprietary cultivars used in the breeding program.

`Wanda` was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by the inventor in 1991 in a controlled environment in Goennebek, Germany.

The first act of vegetative or asexual reproduction of `Wanda` was accomplished when cuttings were taken from the initial selection in Autumn 1991 in a controlled environment in Goennebek by, or under the supervision of, Norbert Bull.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of this clone initiated in Spring 1992 in Goennebek, Germany, and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for `Wanda` are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

`Wanda` has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length, without, however, any variation in genotype.

The following observations, measurements and comparisions describe plants grown in Hillscheid, Federal Republic of Germany under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of `Wanda`, which in combination distinguish this impatiens as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Bright purple-red flower color.

2. Numerous medium sized flowers.

3. Intense green, narrow elliptically shaped leaves.

4. Compact to medium growth habit.

5. Very early flowering.

Of the many commerical cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to `Wanda` is the commercial variety `Anguilla` (unpatented). In comparison to `Anguilla`, `Wanda` has a bright purple-red, almost cherry red main flower color with less violet hue than `Anguilla`. Although the respective flower shapes are similar, the flowers of `Wanda` are smaller by about 11-12 mm and more numerous. Furthermore, `Wanda` has medium green foliage, in contrast to the dark green foliage color of `Anguilla`, and the plant habit of `Wanda` stays more compact.

The accompanying colored photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliage characteristics of `Wanda`, with colors being as true as possible with illustrations of this type. In this regard, the illustration may not depict the color designations and descriptions as they accurately appear in the botanical description.

In the following description color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined indoors from flowers taken from plants grown in Hillscheid, Federal Republic of Germany, under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The description is based on plants which were planted as rooted cuttings in 10 cm pots in early March and then grown in the greenhouse at 20° C. minimum temperature.

Classification:

Botanical.--A hybrid of the genus Impatiens.

Commercial.--New Guinea Impatiens cv `Wanda`.

Plant

A. General appearance and form:

Habit.--Moderately compact, medium-sized, round, well branched, and growth is indeterminate, although weak after flowering begins.

Height.--12.5 cm (10-week -old plants).

Width.--30.0 cm.

Internode length.--3.5 cm.

Stem color.--dark red.

Flowering response.--6 weeks after planting of rooted cuttings.

Flowering season.--generally indeterminate, mainly from March to October, depending on light intensity.

Propagation.--usually terminal tips for cuttings.

Rooting.--color is R.H.S. 159 B-C; roots initiate in about 18 days at 22° C., from sticking to transplanting.

Foliage:

Leaf arrangement.--Primarily in whorls.

Shape of leaf.--Narrow oellipticn with acute base and acuminate tip.

Margin.--Slightly serrated, ciliated.

Leaf, length.--About 125 mm.

Leaf, width.--About 35-37 mm.

Main color of upper surface.--Medium green, approximately R.H.S. 137B.

Veins on upper surface, color.--Light red or pink in the basal part of the leaf, fading toward the tip.

Variegation on leaf.--Absent.

Main color of lower surface.--Light green, about R.H.S. 138B.

Veins on lower surface, color.--Dark red.

Petiole, color.--Dull red.

Petiole, length.--About 15 mm.

Inflorescence

A. Flower:

Flower number per node.--About 5-7, in various stages of development, usually one flower per leaf.

Form of corolla.--Single.

Shape.--Intermediate between nearly round and zygomorph; upper petal slightly cupped.

Average length.--55 mm.

Average width.--52 mm.

Color(general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Purple-red.

Main color of upper surface.--R.H.S. 57 A-B.

Petal number.--Five (5).

Petal shape.--Cordate (heart-shaped), moderately lobed.

Petal length.--25-28 mm.

Petal width.--Upper and lower petals are about 32-35 mm and side petals are about 25 mm.

Petal texture.--Smooth, slightly glossy.

Color of lower surface.--R.H.S. 57 B.

Eye zone.--Small, purple, about R.H.S. 74 A-B; the central area of the flower may fade (turn pink) when maturing.

Spur, color.--About R.H.S. 53 C.

Spur shape and size.--Downwardly curved, about 40-45 mm in length.

Pedicel, length.--About 30 mm.

Pedicel, color. --Dark red R.H.S. 60 A.

Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Stamens: Five (5) in number, fused, upper surface color is mainly R.H.S. 46 B-C. Anthers: Hooded, color is about R.H.S. 11 D. Pollen: Color is about R.H.S. 4 D.

Gynoecium.--Stigma and style: Five (5) in number, very short, color is about R.H.S. 11 D. Ovary: Five (5) celled, 3-5 mm in length, surface color is R.H.S. 137 B. 

I claim:
 1. A new distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens 